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Hse quad comm invites Duterte to drug war probe
By Nidz Godino
“Joint committee respectfully invites you to attend inquiry to provide valuable insights and shed light on issues under discussion, particularly EJKs,” read a portion of the one-page document dated Oct. 18 and signed by lead chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, quad committee of House of Representatives has invited former president Rodrigo Duterte to attend its next hearing tomorrow to shed light on allegations that he implemented reward system for extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during his term.
Senate President Francis Escudero said Senate Blue Ribbon committee would investigate Duterte administration’s drug war, parallel to inquiry being done by quad committee.
Escudero said Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III will spearhead proceedings in Blue Ribbon subcommittee, since its chairperson, Sen. Pia Cayetano, is busy campaigning for reelection.
Barbers asked Duterte, if he has presentation or opening statement, to submit it to the quad secretariat beforehand.
Hearing will start at 9:30 in the morning. when four committees dangerous drugs, public order and safety, human rights and public accounts will resume for purposes of conducting further probe on EJKs, retired police colonel Royina Garma exposed as having systematic reward system.
Joint committee also instructed newly assigned Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, to assist House in “ensuring” invitation to Duterte will be received by him, or his “representative in his residence in Davao City.”
Torre was known for his no-nonsense approach in arresting fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy last month.
Rep. Jude Acidre of party-list Tingog, for his part, expects “more explosive testimonies” from Garma , very loyal and trusted aide of Duterte whom he appointed as general manager of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) when quad comm hearing resumes.
“Her testimonies lay bare what many have feared: that so-called war on drugs wasn’t just campaign against crime it was state-sanctioned bloodbath,” Acidre pointed out.
“Details we are hearing are appalling, and it is clear that this wasn’t anti-drug campaign , it was systematic execution plan with rewards for killings, these revelations are shocking, but unfortunately, they aren’t surprising… Duterte administration was known for its violent rhetoric, but we are now seeing how deeply entrenched this violence was in the institutions themselves, Garma’s testimony doesn’t just implicate rogue officers , it implicates highest levels of government, including Duterte and Go,” he said, recalling Garma’s signed affidavit implicating Duterte and his former special assistant now Sen. Bong Go to the so-called war on drugs.
The former PCSO chief revealed how she was instructed by Duterte to help find police officer who could replicate deadly “Davao model” nationwide operation police were rewarded for killing suspects.
Garma recommended former police colonel Edilberto Leonardo, who later led task force that, according to Garma, operated with impunity under Duterte’s directive.
Leonardo was appointed National Police Commission chief until he filed his resignation recently.
Pimentel said “Ok, yes. I will accept my new assignment” as blue ribbon subcommittee head.
Escudero pointed out that two Senate members , Senators Go and Ronald dela Rosa held key positions under previous administration.
Go was special assistant to the president, and Dela Rosa was first chief of the Philippine National Police under Duterte administration and was considered architect of anti-drug campaign dubbed “Oplan Tokhang.”
The Senate President also pointed out that Congress went on recess last Sept. 27, and will resume session on Nov. 4, and only Senate Blue Ribbon has motu proprio power to conduct investigation.
In agreeing to tap Senate panel to handle the matter, Escudero explained senators discussed in plenary regarding motu proprio power of the committees.
“When we go into recess, referral of the committee on rules to appropriate committee seems to be hijacked as other committees conduct their investigation motu proprio,” he said. “Reason for us to reiterate that only Blue Ribbon committee, and not all committees, can have motu proprio hearing.”
Escudero pointed out that decision was meant to grant Dela Rosa’s wish to have hearing even during recess. Claiming that House quad committee hearings were politicized, Go and Dela Rosa pushed for Senate to conduct parallel probe.
He also revealed that he spoke to the committee secretariat, and asked them if it is possible to coordinate with Go and Dela Rosa to identify witnesses to be invited to the Senate hearing.
Escudero wanted Senate to conduct hearing while Congress is in recess, since upon resumption on Nov. 4, senators would be busy discussing proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025 and other proposed measures.
House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.to order creation of independent fact-finding commission to investigate EJKs.
“We urge the President to form panel similar to Agrava Fact-Finding Board that will probe summary killings and identify all individuals who may be held criminally liable, just like Agrava board, proposed commission should be independent from legislative and executive branches of government, should consist of distinguished individuals who are highly regarded for their fairness and impartiality, and are not politically aligned,” 4Ps party-list congressman Libanan added.
Libanan, lawyer by profession, served as chairman of House committee on justice.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin earlier stated that Marcos administration “places highest importance on the fair dispensation of justice and on universal observance of rule of law” in ongoing investigations into summary execution of drug suspects.
The five-member Agrava Fact-Finding Board investigated Aug. 21, 1983 assassination of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. at Manila International Airport.
Board was chaired by country’s first woman judge, retired appellate court Justice Corazon Agrava, alongside lawyer Luciano Salazar, businessman Dante Santos, educator Amado Dizon, and labor leader Ernesto Herrera, who was later elected senator.
Within 11 months, board took testimonies from 194 witnesses at 146 public hearings, and examined more than 1,400 photographic exhibits.
Board concluded Aquino was killed by military conspiracy led by then-Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Fabian Ver.
In 1990, Sandiganbayan sentenced 16 soldiers, including Brig. Gen. Luther Custodio, to double life imprisonment for assassination of Aquino and fall guy Rolando Galman. Ver died in Thailand in 1998.
Testimonies and evidence presented during ongoing House quad committee hearings corroborate previous findings of Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in its investigation into Duterte administration’s deadly campaign against illegal drugs.
CHR, in statement, expressed optimism with recent developments at quad committee hearings, particularly on details by witnesses regarding EJK incidents.
“CHR is closely monitoring testimonies and emerging pieces of evidence, may contribute to our own ongoing investigations…we are hopeful that quad committee’s inquiry will lead to tangible progress in advancing justice for victims of EJKs, given considerable challenges CHR faced during past administration, we are encouraged that current socio-political climate offers more conducive environment for resolution of these case,” commission said.
Some of the testimonies affirmed previous CHR findings, such as supposed reward system revealed by Garma. CHR report, released in April 2022, found that police operatives involved in the campaign “are either to be awarded, rewarded, or recognized.”
“We reiterate urgency of thoroughly investigating this reward system, as it is crucial in understanding scope and depth of violations committed during campaign,” CHR said.
Commission highlighted its other findings, including consistent narrative of “nanlaban (fought)” and use of excessive and disproportionate force by police conducting operations.
“It cannot be overemphasized that justice and accountability must be pursued, considering significant number of alleged EJK cases, as well as alleged involvement of high-profile personalities, after years of raising concerns over anti-drug campaign and relentless call for accountability, CHR welcomes these promising developments that may contribute to long-awaited pursuit of justice,” CHR said.
Commission expressed its support with ongoing investigation, saying it is ready to share its own reports and findings to the committee.
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